(Tucson, AZ) The Wildcats faced their toughest foe of the season with the #3 ranked Beavers from Oregon State in town.
This was Arizona’s first home game since December 21st 2019.
Oregon State came in with an eye on the #2 or #1 spot with instate rival Oregon losing as well as #1 UConn losing to Baylor University.
The Beavers had won the last eleven games against Arizona, with the game last year’s game in Tucson went into overtime before OSU came out victorious.
Mikayla Pivec came in averaging a double-double with 15.4 scoring and 10.1 rebounds a game. Destiny Slocum was the other half of the 1-2 punch for the Beavers.
The Cats led the nation coming in on scoring defense with 47.1 allowed per game.
Arizona countered with Aari McDonald, the all-everything guard averaged 20.1 points and 5.6 rebounds as a guard along with Pivec is on the Wooden Award list.
Cate Reese also came in with impressive stats with two PAC-12 Player of the Week Awards.
Arizona got off to a slow start with McDonald’s second chance shot was the Cat’s first points at the 6:54 mark of the first quarter. OSU led 7-2.
Helena Pueyo came off the bench to spark the Cat’s offense with a early three pointer and was followed by a Reese layup. Zona was within four 13-9 at the first media timeout.
Although less physical than UCLA last weekend, the Beavers had grabbed twelve boards to four for the Cats.
Dominique McBryde, who’s been injured half of the non-conference schedule had a huge block that transitioned into a San Thomas layup. Cats were still down by four 17-13.
The Beaver offense runs through their guards with great ball movement and that was the case in the first quarter as they held off the Cats 19-15 to end the opening period.
Helena Pueyo came down on a OSU player’s foot and twisted her ankle just under nine minutes to go in the half. The injury sparked Zona’s offense as a three pointer by McDonald and a basket by Thomas gave the Cats their first lead 20-19.
The shots continued to fall as Lucia Alonso hit a trey. OSU stoped the 8-3 Arizona run with a thee point basket by Aleah Goodman.
The Beaver took the lead back 27-26 with a shot beyond the arc by Slocum and followed by the Beaver’s other star guard Pivic.
In that point of the game, it was punch-counterpunch. Both teams showed they wanted this game.
OSU kept their three point assault up and inched the lead to 33-26 before a nice post move by Reese, 33-28 with 1:14 left in the half.
Miscues by the Cats and a foul behind the three point line that gave Oregon State three free thows and a 36-30 halftime lead.
At the half, both Arizona and the Beavers were exactly the same 12-30 from the field (40%). The difference was OSU’s 7-15 from three to the Cat’s 4-11.
The big stat has been Arizona’s Achilles heel all season; rebounding. The Beavers had a slight height advantage over Arizona boxed out well and owned the glass 23-12 with a 7-2 offensive rebounding edge as well.
The first half had lived up to the pregame hype, as both teams went back and forth.
Pueyo had ice on her ankle on the bench to start the third quarter. She never returned to action.
The Beavers came out of the locker room with the first two baskets. To the Wildcat’s credit, they forced four shot clock violations on OSU.
The game started to get a little out of hand at the 6:10 mark of the third quarter as the Beaver lead went to double digits 45-34.
Arizona went in a 10-0 run to pull within one point 45-44 before Tudor hit a rainbow three and was fouled by Alonso to finish a four point play at the end of the quarter. The Beavers knew they were in a fight with a four point lead 49-44 headed into the final quarter.
Things got back on tract for Oregon State as they had withstood the Cat’s fury in the third quarter and began the final period by extending the lead.
As the game had gone earlier, back came the Wildcats with a 6-0 run highlighted by a nasty lateral jump stop drive by McDonald that brought the crowd to its feet. Time out Oregon State!
Pivic with a lights out three with Mara Mote in her face gave the Beavers a little breathing room. 59-54.
Midway through the fourth quarter, this game was a one point affair at 59-58 and each team was a taking the other’s best shots.
Zona took their first lead of the second half with a runner from Amari Carter 60-59 with 3;26 left.
The lead was short lived as OSU went back in front 61-60 with a pair of free throws.
At the 1:40 mark Reese hit one of two free throws to tie the score at 61-61.
Oregon State called timeout with 56.3 seconds left in the game to set up an offensive set. Pivec as she’s done so many times in her career hit a soft four footer in front of the basket to give Oregon State a hard fought fought victory 63-61.
Arizona’s last shot attempt by McDonald was blocked got end the game.
The game with the Oregon Ducks will be more magnified now since they were upset by ASU 72-66 tonight in Tempe.
Overall, Coach Adia Barnes was pleased with the effort and the tenacity the Cats showed. Little mistakes in the game is what the difference was.
Tonight’s attendance was 5,694 but it seemed like around seven to eight thousand.
Game time for the Ducks on Sunday is noon.
